News

 

The 1st XV entertained Pontypridd at Bargoed Park in a WRU Premiership Cup game in glorious conditions and in front of a bumper crowd.

 

Bargoed applied some early pressure but failed to capitalise and turned the ball over close to the opposition line.

 

Bargoed did take the lead though when Josh Prosser kicked a penalty to lead 3-0.

 

Bargoed had the upper hand in terms of territory and possession and were stretching the visitors but they couldn’t convert this into points.

 

The visitors got into the Bargoed 22 and scored from a driving line-out to take an early lead 5-3.

 

They increased the lead when Bargoed conceded a penalty to make it 8-3.

 

Pontypridd were in the driving seat now and after some effective carries close to the Bargoed line they moved it wide and scored in the corner, and led 15-3.

 

Bargoed responded positively though and Pontypridd had a yellow card for slowing the ball down when Bargoed had real momentum. The Bulls punished Pontypridd when hooker Morgan Edwards crashed over from close range, with Prosser converting and at half time it was Bargoed 10 Pontypridd 13.

 

Bargoed started the second half with a bang with James Locke scoring wide out after good work by Dylan Williams and Rhys Thomas.

 

Pontypridd were struggling to hold Bargoed out after a wave of attacks and when they conceded a penalty Josh Prosser punished them with a successful penalty kick, to lead 18-13.

 

The visitors hit back with another close range effort which was converted to put Ponty in front again 20-18.

 

Josh Prosser kicked another penalty to lead 21-20 before Ponty responded kicking a penalty of their own in this see saw battle and led 23-21.

The men from Sardis Road continued to pressure Bargoed and as a result of another penalty conceded they increased the lead to 26-21.

 

Bargoed mounted another attack and pounded Pontypridd’s defensive line and after good work by Rhys Stephens it was replacement Ashley Norton who crashed over for a try. Prosser added the extras and Bargoed led 28-26 with three minutes on the clock.

Bargoed failed to clear their lines and Pontypridd managed to get their hands on the ball. Although the Bulls defended superbly they were penalised at a maul, and the visitors kicked a penalty to win a titanic battle with the last kick of the game.

 

Bargoed will know that they didn’t do enough to get the victory but it was a game they should have won, and will take the positives out of this game. They will work hard this week as they build for another challenge next week with fellow Mid District side Brecon in town, who sit one place below the Bulls in the WRU Premiership league.

 

The Youth travelled to Caerphilly in the final league game in the pre Xmas competition in a top of the table decider.

 

Bargoed worked extremely hard throughout and deservedly came away with an 18-10 victory in a hard fought game.

 

There were tries for Captain Cody Rees who bagged two in an excellent performance and the impressive Harvey Williams also got one. Cale Thomas also weighed in with a penalty.

 

Man of the match was shared between Cody Rees and hard working lock, Brandon McCarthy.